Studio - 7 Month Availability

[Jaguar Skills]

Hi all,

So last year was our first year of using our DVC points, we started the trip staying at AKL in a studio (7 month booking) and then did two weeks at SSR (our home resort so booked at 11 months).

Next year we will be going with our son who will be 6, and our baby due in 4 weeks! So we will therefore still be looking at a studio.

We would be happy just staying at SSR for the 3 weeks (and have enough points to do this) however, we would also like to try somewhere else. We'd really like to try BR or CCV but not really sure of the availability of studios at 7 months. I have reviewed some of the points charts but just thought I'd ask for others experiences. Worst comes to the worst we might try OKW for a week at the end as we tend to do the two weeks of parks at the start and then have a few days exploring at the end.

Thanks for any thoughts anyone can give

 

[han22735]

Need more info. What time of year are you planning on going? That makes a big difference on availability.

 

[drusba]

Whenever you choose to go, you should book the home resort (SSR) at 11 months out and then try to switch at 7-months out. When doing so, if you are considering changing part of the reservation time to another resort, you should make separate home resort reservations in the 11-month window, one for the time you want to be at the home resort and then one for the time you want to try for the other resort, and do nothing to have MS merge those reservations before 7-months out. That way you do not have to first cancel a reservation to make the change, but instead just need to modify one of the existing reservations which can be done while keeping what you have until the modification is actually completed.

As to probability of being able to get a studio at BRV, CCV, or even OKW at 7 months out, be aware of the following:

1. DVC's high to extremely high demand season at WDW has traditionally been late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan. If you are considering that time, you can assume it will be unlikely you will be able to get CCV or BRV studios for multiple days, particularly a week, at 7 months out, and even OKW can have issues with availability at any time during that period, particularly during the extremely high demand times: the Thurs before Columbus Day to the weekend after Columbus Day; the Wine and Dine race weekend (Thurs to Sun) in early Nov; the last weekend of the Food & Wine festival in mid-Nov, Thanksgiving week, the first two weeks of Dec, Dec 23 through Jan 1, and marathon weekend in Jan.

2. During the rest of the year, mid-Jan to mid-Sep, DVC's more moderate demand season, you are likely to still often have problems getting BRV studios for multiple days, particularly a full week, during many times but may get lucky. For many years, it was easy to get BRV at 7-months out during that time but then, several years ago, DVD/DVC added a smaller-than-twin-size Murphy bed to the studios to allow then to be reserved for five rather than the previous limit of four. That has resulted in BRV studios being more difficult to get at 7-months out at many times during the moderate season, but chances still exist at times for getting multiple days. Chances are somewhat better during the lowest DVC demand times of the year: Feb 1 to the Thurs before Presidents' Day, the Monday after the Princess half-marathon weekend in late Feb through the first week of March, the last week of April, and July 7 to July 30.

3. CCV will also have difficulties getting a studio at many times during the moderate season, even though those allow only four. The main cause of that was DVD's decision, in creating CCV as a resort, to having many two-bedroom cabins along the lake as rooms that are part of CCV. Those cabins resulted in DVD's having a huge amount of extra points to sell, because the nightly point cost for a cabin is extremely high. However, the vast majority of purchasers of those extra points were persons buying only enough points to get smaller rooms, particularly studios. The result: studios were extremely oversold (legally) causing excessive demand for them during much of the year.

4. OKW studios (other than those in the near Hospitality House booking category) will likely be available much of the time during the moderate season, although issues can arise once in a while.

 

[sethschroeder]

Next year we will be going with our son who will be 6, and our baby due in 4 weeks! So we will therefore still be looking at a studio.

Any chance you can get the 1BR math to work? With a child that young having the separate area for naps is a nice thing to have.

1BR is easier to get as well. If you are planning on not going to parks as much towards end of the trip you might even look offsite somewhere as well?

 

[gharter]

In general, getting a studio at 7 months is difficult. IF you are traveling at a less busy time, you may be able to get one. If you travel at a peak/busy time for DVC, don't expect it to happen.

 

[Minniesgal]

I would be tempted to go for fewer nights and have a 1 bedroom

 

[Ruttangel]

I would be tempted to go for fewer nights and have a 1 bedroom

I find this fascinating because it shows that the room experience is more important to you than time at the parks. I'm opposite, max vacation time and look for AKV value rooms to stretch it out.

 

[RoseGold]

Three weeks? Wow, that is a long time in a studio with two kids. It's not hard to get something, but you won't get three weeks of anything. I would split the original booking into much smaller segments so you can swap it out.

CCV is going to be particularly hard because it has always been underweighted with studios. Something like Poly could be easier, because there's more inventory, but this depends heavily on when you are going. Peak times are peak for a reason.

Assuming you aren't peak -- with this many points, walking can work, even at 7 months. I'd look carefully at availability and make some choices a week before and start walking.

 

[pianomanzano]

Hi all,

So last year was our first year of using our DVC points, we started the trip staying at AKL in a studio (7 month booking) and then did two weeks at SSR (our home resort so booked at 11 months).

Next year we will be going with our son who will be 6, and our baby due in 4 weeks! So we will therefore still be looking at a studio.

We would be happy just staying at SSR for the 3 weeks (and have enough points to do this) however, we would also like to try somewhere else. We'd really like to try BR or CCV but not really sure of the availability of studios at 7 months. I have reviewed some of the points charts but just thought I'd ask for others experiences. Worst comes to the worst we might try OKW for a week at the end as we tend to do the two weeks of parks at the start and then have a few days exploring at the end.

Thanks for any thoughts anyone can give

I would definitely consider cutting back the number of days and staying in a 1BR. Babies need a lot of sleep. We brought our little one at 15 months in a studio at SSR and it was not fun (luckily it was only a long weekend trip). It was basically lights out when our little one went to bed by 7pm. Our next stay was in a 1BR and that was a game changer. Leaving her pack n play in the room meant that we could hang out in the living room to properly wind down, one night we even slept on the pull down bed. Having the full kitchen and W+D is a nice bonus as well to have a dedicated space to dry bottles and to wash all their clothes and bibs as well!

 

[kanerf]

You might try for VGF since they just added a bunch of new studios. They will be more points though.

 

[Minniesgal]

I find this fascinating because it shows that the room experience is more important to you than time at the parks. I'm opposite, max vacation time and look for AKV value rooms to stretch it out.

Yea totally

 

[Annabell]

In my experience, booking a studio at 7 month out is not easy but it can be done, just check back often because people cancel.

 

[han22735]

We've never had an issue booking a studio. We do travel at non peak times though. Sept/January/may and August. We've been able to book BC, BWV(2 times) poly twice, AKV, SSR . We also could have had BLT but didn't want to waste the points. So depending on when your going there's usually availability

 

[AaronEuth]

Book your home resort for all three weeks in one week chunks (or more bookings and less days if you don't mind the hassle). Then at 7 months you can modify the individual bookings for whatever is available. That way you can just modify instead of cancelling and rebooking.

Also three weeks in a studio with two kids is a lot. Maybe consider 1 week at home resort, and the second week in a 1BR somewhere else and dropping the third week. It would give you a washer and dryer halfway through your trip, and increase the 7 month availability options substantially. You wouldn't even have to decide until the 7 month mark (for week 2) once you see what is available. If your dream resort 1br is available, you cancel week 3 and modify week 2.

 

[crisi]

I find this fascinating because it shows that the room experience is more important to you than time at the parks. I'm opposite, max vacation time and look for AKV value rooms to stretch it out.

And I can't imagine spending three weeks at WDW - especially in a studio. Even in a Grand Villa after about six days I am SO DONE and ready to be home.

 

[Nursemanit]

SSR or OKW are much better for long stays with a car. You can park right by your unit. And the point charts are much better for a 1br.

I would do 1 Disney parks week, and then an Orlando week ( Universal/waterparks) , and then see if you can get a few nights at Vero to end at the beach.